Bill is carefully worded to avoid abortion issues

DENVER - A bill creating criminal penalties for crimes that result in the termination of a pregnancy passed its last vote in the General Assembly Friday, meaning it now goes to the governor's desk.

If signed, House Bill 13-1154 would create in Colorado law the crimes of unlawful termination of a pregnancy in the first degree, unlawful termination of a pregnancy in the second degree, unlawful termination of a pregnancy in the third degree, unlawful termination of a pregnancy in the fourth degree, vehicular unlawful termination of a pregnancy, aggravated vehicular unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and careless driving resulting in unlawful termination of a pregnancy.

Significantly, the bill includes two provisions to prevent abortion from being a prosecutable act under those new crimes.

First, the bill explicitly does not attribute the status of "person" to the fetus, embryo or unborn child. Second, it excludes from prosecution any medical care to which the mother consented.